Thanksgiving Challenge

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night…” (Psalm 92:1-2). 

Would you be willing to try an experiment with me? Here’s the challenge: Every morning and every night for the next seven days, I want you to write down at least one reason you have to give thanks to the Lord. 

Start with just one week. Keep a journal or notebook handy. When you wake up in the morning, whether before your feet hit the floor or perhaps after your first cup of coffee, write down at least one way God has shown you His steadfast love. And in the evening as you unwind think of at least one way that God has shown you His faithfulness, and write it down. 

Need help getting started? Sometimes our minds get foggy and our lives so busy that we hardly even give thought to the myriad ways God works in us and around us all the time. Our awareness of His presence is often sorely and sadly absent, to our own discredit and dismay. 

The Bible says it is good to give thanks to the Lord. No doubt it is! A life lived with thanksgiving to God is a life filled with the nearness of God, the help of God, and the glory of God. And truly there’s no better way to live. 

So here are a few questions to stir your heart and mind to giving thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love in the morning and His faithfulness at night. 

Has the Lord given you wisdom in making a difficult decision today? Has He reminded you that He will never leave you nor forsake you? Has He revealed His compassion through the kindness of a friend, or a stranger? Thank Him for it! 

Has He surprised you with a new joy after a night of sorrow? Has He given you comfort in a trying time? Has He filled your heart and mind with a peace that passes understanding? Has He answered a prayer? Has He protected you from harm? Thank Him for it! 

Has He surrounded you with friends and family who love and encourage you? Has He revealed His glory afresh to you in the handiwork of His creation – a beautiful sunset, a star-lit night, a rippling brook, or a gentle snow? Thank Him for it! 

Has He given you courage to face a new challenge? Has He given you insight and understanding into a situation? Has He been a refuge in the storm? Has He provided for you this day your daily bread? Has He supplied your needs in abundance? Thank Him for it! 

Has He assured you of His forgiveness and cleansing from your sin through the blood of Jesus? Has He freed you from the chains of addiction? Has He given you new life through faith in Jesus, His Son? Has He promised you eternal life and encouraged your spirit in this hope? Thank Him for it! 

Has He poured out His Holy Spirit upon you to guide you, counsel you, teach you, and help you? Has He led you to a church family where you are welcomed and loved, nourished and strengthened in the faith, and given opportunities to serve using the gifts and abilities God has given you? Has He excited your heart with purpose and passion in your work, in your ministry, in your mission? Thank Him for it! 

Friend, it is good to give thanks to the Lord! Take this challenge for a week – then keep it up if you find it helpful. And just see whether or not you agree that giving thanks to the Lord is good for your soul. Happy Thanksgiving!

Prayers for Sutherland Springs and our nation

I am heartbroken to learn of the tragic shooting at Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church this past Sunday, where 26 people have been killed and at least 20 others injured. This is a horrific act of evil inflicted upon unsuspecting Christians who had gathered together to worship the Lord God. 

Let’s pray for this precious church family and the entire community as they deal with this unimaginable situation. May the God of all comfort and peace show His extraordinary loving-kindness in wave after wave of mercy and healing power. May His amazing grace be sufficient for help in every need and in every moment. And may the Sovereign Lord bring good out of all that Satan has intended for evil. 

Now would also be a good time (once again) for us to pray for our nation. We need a great spiritual awakening. We need to repent of our sins and we need to turn to Jesus, the only One who can save us from this divisive, chaotic, violent, ungodly mess we’ve made. And – praise the Lord – He eagerly waits to be gracious and exalts Himself to show mercy. 

You’ve probably heard of the prophet Jonah. God called him to go to Nineveh, and he flat-out refused to go. Instead he boarded a ship going the other way, found himself in the midst of a raging storm, got thrown overboard, and was swallowed up by a huge fish. He was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights before God commanded the fish to vomit Jonah onto dry land. 

But I want to ask you this question: Do you know why God wanted Jonah to go to Nineveh in the first place? Do you know what kind of a city Nineveh was? 

Well, let’s just say that Nineveh would never have made the list for “Best Places to Live” in Time Magazine. They were an evil and violent people. The culture was awash in immorality, greed, and cruelty. They did not fear the Sovereign God of heaven nor desire to conform to His truth. Does that sound like any place you know today? 

And the reason God sent Jonah was because their wickedness had reached the point of God’s justice, and He was ready to destroy the city. So the Lord called Jonah to preach a message of impending doom upon the city, and this was their opportunity to repent so that God’s judgment might be averted from them and His mercy on full display. 

Do you know what happened, after Jonah finally agreed to obey the Lord and go to Nineveh, that is? Amazingly enough, this ungodly people believed the word and they repented of their sins! The king of Nineveh even called for a city-wide three-day fast for both man and beast so that the people would cry out to God for mercy. He urged the people to turn from their evil way and from their violence, reasoning that perhaps “God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish” (Jonah 3:9). 

And God’s response? “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened” (Jonah 3:10). 

Friend, I believe that our nation is racing toward the point of God’s justice against us, and if we don’t heed the message to repent and turn to the Lord now, we may not get another forty days. Let us cry out to God for mercy. Let us, in the words of the prophet Isaiah, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will surely pardon” (Isaiah 5:6-7).

Baseball, Teamwork, and the Thrill of Serving Together as a Church

You gotta love fall. October’s always been my favorite month of the year. From the chill of the morning air to perfectly warm afternoons, and from the picturesque array of changing colors to the bright reflection of the harvest moon, October brings the best of God’s creative handiwork.

And of course there’s college football hitting full stride (despite the ridiculous amount of time they spend on replays), NFL action on the field (which is still fun to watch, although the league is self-destructing), and even NBA and NHL for those interested. It’s a good time to be a sports fan. 

Then there’s the World Series. There are some things a boy never outgrows. The Fall Classic is one of them. In recent years we’ve witnessed some truly remarkable games. What Cardinals fan can forget the 2011 win over the Rangers, especially the Game 6 never-say-die comeback? And how many Cubs fans truly believed they’d live to see the day their team won it all as they did in dramatic fashion in Game 7 last year? 

Personally I enjoyed watching the Kansas City Royals take the trophy in 2015, their first since the days of George Brett and company in 1985. Not that I’ve been a lifelong Royals fan, but after living in KC for three years I began rooting for the home team. And yes, I root for the Chiefs, too. 

Maybe my all-time favorite World Series memory was the Dodgers’ win in 1988. I was, and am still, a huge Orel Hershiser fan. Baseball fans will remember Hershiser threw an incredible six straight shutouts to finish the regular season, then another eight innings in Game 1 of the NLCS, for a total of 67 consecutive scoreless innings. His record still stands. He then pitched another 21 innings of shutout ball through the NLCS and into the World Series, claiming MVP honors in both. 

And who can forget the spectacular walk-off home run by a hobbled Kirk Gibson pinch-hitting in Game 1? Don’t you still get goosebumps watching the replays and hearing Vin Scully’s legendary call? 

Going further back, I was six years old and remember Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, slugging three home runs for the Yankees in Game 6 of 1977 World Series against the Dodgers. I’m still not a Yankees fan. 

How many of you remember who won the World Series champs in 1979? That’s right – the “We Are Family” Pittsburgh Pirates, with their hit theme song by sung by who? Answer: Sister Sledge. Give yourself 100 points if you got that right. Led by superstars Willie Stargell, Dave Parker, Bill Madlock, Phil Garner, Omar Mareno, John Candelaria, and Kent Tekelve, this team worked and played together as a family and fought their way to the title over the Baltimore Orioles. 

Well, that’s a lot of baseball reminiscing for now, but let me just say I love watching great teams work together as a team, as a family. There’s something uniquely compelling and genuinely satisfying about accomplishing extraordinary feats against overwhelming odds together with your team. 

You know, the greatest team I’ve ever been a part of is the team called the church. Serving together in ministry partnership, in fellowship, and in the mission of Christ Jesus – in His name and in His power – to accomplish supernatural, Kingdom-of-Heaven work in this world truly is the greatest thrill I’ve known. 

And, friend, there’s room on the team for you, because there’s room at the cross for you. Join us at Petersburg First Baptist Church where you’ll discover a salvation that offers a far more satisfying journey than any World Series trophy can afford.  

VBS Top 10

Vacation Bible School! Mark it down – VBS next week at Petersburg First Baptist Church! We kick it off Sunday, July 9, and go through Thursday, July 13, 6:00 – 8:30 each evening. All children from those who will be entering Kindergarten this Fall through those who just completed 6^th grade are welcome to come. 

So here’s a top 10 list of reasons why your children should be in Vacation Bible School next week at First Baptist Church.

10. Recreation. Not the super-competitive dodge ball style you played in 3^rd grade on the playground, but fun-for-everyone games. And water games are always a hit. 

9. Crafts. I can remember some of the crafts I did as a kid in VBS, and that was a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away! Make sure you ask your children about the crafts they’re doing each night, and I’m sure they’d love to tell you about the things they’re making. 

8. Missions. Integral to who we are as a church is a focus on world missions. So we’ll incorporate ways to help your children learn about the ways God is using ordinary people with a passion for Christ to take the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. 

7. Not as late this year. We’ve modified our schedule to conclude each evening at 8:30 rather than 9:00, which means everyone gets home sooner and hopefully gets a better night’s rest, which is good for a long week of VBS. 

6. “Galactic Starveyors: Discovering the God of the Universe.” That’s this year’s theme, where your children will search the skies and God’s Word to uncover God’s truth. They’ll discover that the God who created everything there is – the knowable and the unknowable, the visible and the invisible – wants a relationship with them! 

5. Church van. If your children need a ride, please call the church office at 632-2488, and we’ll be happy to add them to the van route. 

4. Family Night. Parents, grandparents – plan to come at 7:00 Thursday night for family night, where the children will present some of the songs they’ve learned throughout the week, Bible verses, as well as highlights you’ll not want to miss. Children love to have their parents come for things like this.  

3. Snacks. Essential VBS fuel. Enough said. 

2. Music. We’re going to miss Sarah Holliday not being here this week, but Rachel Warren is eager to teach the children some great new songs, and kids love to sing. They may even drive their parents crazy singing these catchy tunes for weeks to come, but it’s all good. Just smile, parents, and be glad they’re not singing Miley Cyrus or Katy Perry, or Drake or Rihanna, or well, the list could go on and on. So just smile. 

1. Jesus. The number one reason your children should be here is Jesus, because He’s the reason any of us are here in the first place. Go look up Colossians 1:15-16 (you can even Google it!) and you’ll discover the supremacy of Christ in all things. That’s our theme verse, and the week’s Bible story teachings will center around the good news that Jesus came to be our Savior. 

Parents, our church has been praying for your children as we’re preparing for VBS. Your family will know that we care deeply for you with the love of Christ and that we design all that we do to lead you to faith in Jesus. Feel free to call the church office at 632-2488 for more information. Hope to see you then!

Solutions for America's Good

With the 4^th of July coming up next week, yes, I am thankful to live in America, thankful for our freedoms and opportunities, and thankful for all who have served and sacrificed for the good of the cause. I am especially grateful to our great and glorious God who has shed His grace upon this land in extraordinary ways.

Yet I am convinced that things could be much better in this country. So rather than complain about what’s wrong, let me offer three quick solutions that will change us for the good and steer our nation onto the right course. 

1. We need a holy reverence for God. Seriously, a renewed respect for and admiration of Almighty God would resolve most of the problems we have in this country. As we thumb our national nose at the notion that there is an omnipotent, omniscient Creator, we might well expect that He would be justified in giving us up to our own impurities, dishonorable passions, and debased minds to do what ought not to be done. And we will surely suffer the consequences thereof. 

We still sing “God Bless America,” and we still hear politicians tag their speeches with a nod to God for His blessing, but words ring hollow when we turn around and deny Him with our immoral actions, rebellious attitudes, irreverent talk, and godless political decisions. Let us acknowledge God as the almighty Maker of heaven and earth, and humble ourselves under His mighty hand. 

2. We need to recognize that society benefits from biblical values. I know that doesn’t sit well with progressive culture, but it’s true. The principles we see in God’s Word give any society the structure in which to thrive. Looking no further than the 10 Commandments, it is evident that a community living by these laws benefits tremendously by their keeping. 

Even non-Christians ought to be able to clearly conclude that a nation where children honor their parents, where there is no murder, no adultery, no theft, no lying, and no coveting of your neighbor’s stuff would make for a great place to live. 

American Statesman Daniel Webster nailed it: “If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.” 

3. We need to reaffirm the home as the foundational component for building healthy community. Studies consistently and overwhelmingly show that children’s well-being is tied significantly to being raised in a loving home with their mother and father. Yet it seems that most social solutions being proposed today are at best like trying to cure skin cancer with a band-aid. 

Fathers, let me especially encourage you to be actively engaged in your children’s lives. The results of our collective failure in this regard are staggering. One Princeton study found that boys raised apart from their fathers were two to three times more likely to end up in jail before age 30. Another study found that girls whose fathers disappeared before they turned 6 were about five times more likely to end up as pregnant teenagers than were girls who were raised with their fathers in the homes. 

The evidence is clear. God’s design for the family, as it turns out unsurprisingly, is best for families, communities and nations. We would do well to make it a national priority to strengthen marriages, homes and families. 

Let’s celebrate this July 4th by turning our hearts in reverence to God, to the truths of His Word, and to our raising our families in the ways of the Lord. 

Leading Well - Lessons from Coach Wooden

Man, I’ve been slack in writing! Got a hundred excuses, if you care to hear them, but mainly just haven’t prioritized it. So for both of my faithful readers who have been missing this column recently, thanks for coming back!

I love reading about and watching great coaches. I’m thinking of some of the most well-known and successful coaches like Bear Bryant, Vince Lombardi, Coach K, Tom Landry, Tony Dungy, Bobby Bowden, and a host of others. And one John Wooden. 

These guys are masters in their field. 

For me, a great coach not only knows the X’s and O’s well, but also lives his or her life with integrity, passion, and wisdom. He pours his heart into the development of his players, both on and off the field. He sets the bar high, challenging them to achieve more than they think they can, and provides all the resources, training, correction, help, and encouragement they need to succeed. 

Coach Wooden was the best of the best. The “Wizard of Westwood” led the UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team to an unprecedented 88 consecutives wins and 10 NCAA championships, including seven in a row. But his tremendous influence upon the lives of those he led far surpasses his achievements on the hardwood. 

One of Wooden’s star players, Bill Walton, said this in 2007 interview: “When I left UCLA in 1974 and became the highest-paid player in the history of team sports at that time, the quality of my life went down. That’s how special it was to have played for John Wooden and UCLA.” 

Wooden invested in the lives of his players and knew that life was more than basketball. More than caring about their potential as basketball players, he truly loved them as people. He sought to instill within them values such as humility, gratitude, hard-work, teamwork, responsibility, honesty, consideration of others, serving others, and the importance of family and love. 

He often taught: “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what people think you are.” How true, and how relevant! 

We need leaders like this in our world today. Fathers, we need to lead our families like this. Teachers, coaches, business leaders, government authorities, bosses, fellow pastors, big brothers and sisters, and all who have influence in another’s life – let’s lead those whom God has entrusted to our care with integrity, passion, and wisdom. Let’s be the best we that we can so that we can help others become the best that they can be – and that life is always and only found in Christ Jesus. 

Coach Wooden was also a strong Christian man who read his Bible daily and once wrote: “I have always tried to make it clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior.” 

And I say “Amen” to that! Friend, let me urge you put your trust in Jesus who alone can save from sin and death, who alone can grant abundant and eternal life to all who believe, and who alone can lead you to live in a way far beyond your own expectations, for your good and for His greater and glory. Now that’s some great coaching!

The Simple Message of Christmas

The message is quite simple, really. Profound, mysterious, glorious, earth-shattering, life-transforming, awe-inspiring, and simple:

The baby born in Bethlehem was God the Son.

He was God, and He became flesh. The Maker of the heavens and the earth, the One who made the stars in the sky and holds all things together, the One who marks the boundaries of the ocean and owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the One who breathed the breath of life into mankind and knows the number of our days, He who is the everlasting God stepped into our shoes and walked among us.

     

Jesus, the Son of God who existed in perfect unity with God the Father and the God the Holy Spirit from the beginning, took on humanity’s flesh and blood by entering this world as a baby boy through the womb of the virgin Mary. He “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…born in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7). The King of all kings “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). He is rightfully called “Immanuel, which means, God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

     

Truth. Unbelievable, yet believable truth. Simple. Truth.

And in His life He accomplished for us His mission – to seek and to save the lost by His death and resurrection. It is indeed “good news of great joy…for all the people” (Luke 2:10); for true to His name, this baby they called Jesus came to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

What does that mean for us? Nothing less than everlasting life for those who receive Him. Forgiveness of our sins. Peace with God. Hope that never disappoints. Love that never goes away. Adoption into the family of God. Abundant life. Purpose in living. Victory over sin. God’s power working in us. God’s presence alive in us. And so, so much more!

The Bible says, “He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:11-12). And those who believe and belong to Him will know the unspeakable joy and unending treasure of dwelling in His presence for all eternity. 

How can you be sure of this great hope? It is sure because God is faithful. 

Let me ask you, friend: Do you believe in Jesus? Don’t make the fatal mistake of those who received Him not. Instead, make this Christmas more memorable than ever by simply believing in Christ as Savior and Lord. 

“Come to Bethlehem, and see 

Him whose birth the angels sing; 

Come, adore on bended knee 

Christ the Lord, the newborn King.” 

And join us this Sunday – Christmas morning – at a special 10:00 worship celebration at Petersburg First Baptist Church, where we’ll come joyful and triumphant to adore Him, Christ the Lord! 

Jesus and Judgment

I’ve discovered a good way to turn off a conversation. You know that person who always seems to call or show up right as you’re about to make an important phone call, are headed out the door, or having dinner? The one who doesn’t know how to take a hint, who would consume your entire day if you let him, and whose favorite topic in the world is himself?

Here it is: bring up the subject of hell. It’s a proven non-starter, and almost always guaranteed to keep your untimely guest moving right along. And if you’re really needing to keep things short, introduce the name of Jesus into the conversation and watch how quickly you find yourself freed. Works like a charm.

Of course, I would hope that such weighty and sobering subjects might actually lead to a much more serious discussion, especially given that eternal stakes are hanging in the balance. But most people would simply rather not even think about it.

Can I say something, if you’re still reading, that is? I want to say this in love and compassion toward you, but with gravity of heart because of the magnitude of the truth: The day of God’s judgment will come soon enough, where the righteous will receive their heavenly reward, while the wicked will be condemned to the fiery furnace of hell.

If you’ll stay with me for a moment, allow me to unpack this briefly.

In no uncertain terms the Scriptures tell us that at the close of this age the Lord will judge the world. We read in Acts 17:30-32, for example: “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

The fact is that we will all be held accountable to God. Christ Jesus will come in all His glory and will sit on His glorious throne. The nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another. His judgments will be righteous and just, for He knows the hearts of all men, all their thoughts and intentions, their deeds and their words, and everything hidden will be exposed by the light of His presence.

The result of His judgment will be eternal life for the righteous and eternal punishment for the unrighteous.

The righteous are those who have been saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. They have humbled themselves in repentance, confessed their sins before the Lord, received His forgiveness, have been born again, and endure through faith and obedience to Jesus their Lord and Savior. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Those who will be condemned are those who do not believe in the name of Jesus (John 3:18). They have refused God’s merciful and gracious offer of forgiveness in Christ, and will suffer the wages for their sins, which is death and hell (Romans 6:23). Jesus speaking of hell describes it as an eternal, fiery furnace: “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:42).

I cannot sugarcoat this truth for you. All I can do is pray for you and plead for you to repent and flee the wrath to come when Jesus returns as Judge. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Maybe you didn’t want to hear that today, but if you’ve hung around long enough, maybe it’s exactly what you need. 

Letting the Word of Christ Take Root

Quick recap for you from this past Sunday’s message at FBC.

In Matthew 13 we find Jesus speaking to the crowds in parables. Parables are real life stories used to illustrate spiritual truth. Here He’s unveiling some remarkable mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven to those who are receptive to His word, while confirming the dull hearts of those who reject His message.

In what’s called the Parable of the Sower (which I’d rename the Parable of the Soil, but nobody asked!), Jesus shows four types of responses to the message of the Kingdom. Let me suggest, for maximum value, that you read Matthew 13:1-9 and 18-23 first. And it would be helpful for you to consider what kind of response you’ve personally made to Jesus as you read.

The first kind of response Jesus identifies for us is the hard heart. This is the person who hears the Word but has zero interest. His heart has become cold and calloused to spiritual things. He’s the one described in Romans 1 who has suppressed the truth about God because of his own unrighteousness. He claims to be wise, and he often exhibits a proud, self-sufficient, self-righteous attitude, but he’s become a fool, and his foolish heart has been darkened. He despises wisdom and instruction, and lives as if there is no God. He loves to sin, falls deeper and deeper in love with all kinds of sinful deeds, and even rises to applaud others who likewise do what ought not to be done.

The second kind of response Jesus tells us is the shallow heart. This is the person who hears the message of the Kingdom and seems to embrace it wholeheartedly. Like new growth in rocky soil, this person appears to be flourishing in her newfound faith. She’s zealous in church attendance, Bible study, and wants to serve immediately. She may have even walked an aisle or signed a card or gotten baptized. But sooner or later, when troubles or persecutions arise on account of the Word, her supposed faith withers. There was never any genuine repentance or brokenness over her sin, and no real transformation. She certainly is not willing to endure suffering for the sake of Christ. Her feelings were stirred for a while, but there’s no root, and her soul remained unchanged.

Another kind of response Jesus points out is the divided heart. This is the person who hears the message of Christ and appears to grow like a true disciple, but ultimately proves himself to be another pretender when his affection for riches and allegiance to worldly cares take precedence over his professed loyalty to Jesus. His first love is not for Christ. He loves the things of the world, but the love of the Father is not in him. The Word is soon choked out by his pursuit of wealth and pleasure, and his life bears no fruit.

The fourth kind of response is the one Jesus highlights as the only true, saving response to the message of the Kingdom. This is the person who hears the gospel message, understands it, learns to trust and obey it, and keeps persevering in it. She is the one who puts away all filthiness and wickedness and humbly receives the word planted, which is able to save her soul. She is convicted of her sin, genuinely repents, and turns in faith to the Lord Jesus. And her life yields much spiritual fruit for the Kingdom of God.

What kind of personal response have you made to the message of Christ and His Kingdom? Why not humble your heart today to receive His Word? Then let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly and keep on abiding in Christ, and your life will bear fruit in abundance. 

Back-to-School Prayer

Here’s my back-to-school prayer as we gear up for another year.

“Our Father in heaven, in a world filled with dangers, toils and snares, we look to You because You reign on Your heavenly throne with infinite wisdom, matchless power, and unfailing love. You are the great King above all kings, and there is none like You. You are majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, and the God of wonders. Your name is great and greatly to be praised. We rejoice in knowing that You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

In light of Your goodness, we lift up our children as they begin this new school year. Lord, we boldly ask in the name of Jesus that You will invade our schools with the light of the gospel. We pray for a spiritual awakening, that many hearts will turn away from sin and turn in faith to Christ Jesus for salvation. We ask, O God, for Your Holy Spirit to fill every heart and every hallway with the glory of Your presence.

We pray that in view of the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ Jesus, You will lead Your followers in our schools to be beacons of righteousness. By Your transforming power, may a spirit of kindness, goodness, and encouragement toward others rule in their words, their attitudes and their actions. May love and peace and joy flow like rivers of grace bringing refreshing life to all they encounter.

We pray that there will be an environment of patience, meekness, honor and respect in every classroom, on every school bus, and in every extra-curricular activity. Give our children a humble submission to the authority of those who lead them, and may those in authority govern with wisdom, compassion, justice and humility of service.

Holy Father, we ask that You will guide our children to live with self-control, that they would embrace what’s right and reject all wrong. Lead them not into temptation, but deliver them from evil. Shape their own will to desire nothing less than to know and to seek and to do Your will.

We further pray that You will continue to watch over their ways and protect them from all harm – physically, emotionally, spiritually. Provide for their needs. Guide them in the way of truth. Make learning a delight for them. Surround them with godly influences. Help them build strong friendships, to learn loyalty, gratitude, teamwork, diligence, perseverance and initiative. Teach them wise time-management skills, how to express their uniqueness and creativity in Christ-honoring ways, and how to become leaders who can impact the world today and future generations for good.

And Father, for every teacher, administrator, secretary, aide, coach, cook, bus driver and school board member, we pray likewise for Your hand and Your wisdom to guide them in every decision, in every action, and in every way. We thank you for their willingness to invest positively in this generation of students.

Finally, Lord Jesus, we pray for each home to be a safe haven of rest and joy. Bless our homes and families with the light of Your presence. Make Your face to shine upon us, be gracious to us, and give us peace. In Jesus name we pray, amen.”